I think it would be extremely interesting to read a Lacanian psychobiography of Gein as it seems that he was most certainly a psychotic, not only because of his bizarre actions and because he was diagnosed with schizophrenia but the fact that his mother was so incredibly dominating and his father so weak, which would indicate the psychotic structure. Another reason it would be so interesting is that he did engage in premeditation and the telling of lies in order to get away with his crimes, which indicates that he was not completely "legally insane" despite how he was found at trial.
In fact, a Lacanian psychobiography of any killer would be interesting to read if anyone knows any.
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Whether Ed Gein is psychotically structured is one thing, but another is that a weak father doesn’t equal a psychotic structure. The name/s of the father/s is a function, even though this may correspond with a weak father in the imaginary register.
And that function was likely never imposed considering his mother also told him his father was garbage, all men are evil, etc.
I'm afraid that simply isn't how that works.
Why don't you think it is odd that he was diagnosed with schizophrenia as well then? It would appear that the name of the father was never imposed at all.
You cannot know that by simply judging the constellation of their parents. How do you know the mother or a friend wasn't the name of the father for them?
And schizophrenia is not instantly equatable with being psychotic.
Because the family was so isolated, Gein had no friends or other family, even as a kid, and his brother was not the name of the father either, considering he was also dominated by the mother. You're saying that his mother could have been the name of the father?
I think people diagnosed with schizophrenia are more likely to be psychotics because language disorder is a symptom of both. It would be interesting to read a psychobiography of him and quite frankly unless you've actually written one your speculation isn't that interesting to me.
I did not say that I can diagnose Ed Gein. I said that I wanted to read a psychobiography on him, and gave some thoughts of mine. I'd be happy to read one on him that claims he was not a psychotic. If you know of one let me know. If you're gonna write one let me know. If you're gonna argue with me in the comments, refrain.
That's possible. But I'm saying that's not really anything we can discern except a theoretical analyst. The NoTF isn't something you can just squint at dad and mom or their relationship to discover. It can be passed through multiple people, or nobody at all really.
Whatever metaphorizes the subject and sets their drives in delay (ouvrir la voie à desire) can be said to be the Father's function for them. In the case of a sintome, the subject kind of embodies it themselves with their activity/message which is not addressed to the Other or any specific meaning.
I just want to emphasize again that people experiencing psychosis are more likely to be victims of crime than perpetrators. Florid psychosis tends to just make people vulnerable to abuse and exploitation not violent. Neurotics are perfectly capable of violence including spectacular or seemingly perverse forms. We cannot diagnose someone from the outside.
He was definitely a victim of his mother's abuse for decades.